When the 2016 Mazda Miata was revealed just a few short weeks ago, we were short on details. In fact, we had no details. But thanks to a tipster, we can now confirm that the 2016 Mazda Miata will be powered by a 2.0 liter SKYACTIV-G engine in the USA and a 1.5 liter engine elsewhere.
This week marks the start of the Paris Motor Show, and with it is the first opportunity for the Miata to be seen on the stage at a major international auto show. It also means Mazda needs to have more news on the car to give to the hungry press.
Well, here you go. According to Mazda's press kit for the auto show, most global markets will see the 2016 Miata powered by a 1.5 liter engine (which we had already heard and really, really didn't believe... whoops!), but, and this is a first in Miata-land, the US market will have the car powered by the familiar 2.0 SKYACTIV-G that we find in the Mazda3 and Mazda CX-5.
The 2.0 SKYACTIV appears to be our only engine choice while other markets will have a choice of 1.5 liter or 2.0.
While Mazda has chosen to not reveal power specifications at this time, it seems right that we can assume the new Miata will have at least 155 horsepower and 150 pound feet of the torque. If it stays at that power level, that's a decrease of 12 horsepower and an increase of 10 pound feet of torque. The new car also weighs far less than the old car, so the power deficit won't matter.
We'll have to see if those figures stay the same, or if the horsepower is bumped up to a level that will not see people complain about a slight power loss.